Apparatus for extracting soluble substances



w. E. sANGER ET AL 1,799,481

APPARATUS FOR EXTRACTING SOLUBLE SUBSTANCES April 7, 1931.4

Filed May s, 1925' QN i .A WN T/ u awww,

www n www. Mn. NN

Patented Apr. 7,

UNITED STATES PATENT 1 QFFCE WALTER n. SANGED AND oscAa n. 'wuns'TEia` or cnrcAGo, iLLmOIS;v UNION TRUST .coisamnlvxn orpETRoIT, mrcmeAmrxncU'TonoF THE SAID WALTEDE sanear),

DEGEASED, ASsIeNoR To SAID WURSTEn APPARATUS vron EXTnAcTINo- SOLUDLESUBSTANCES Application led May 9, 41923. Serial -No. 687,713.A

VThis invention relatesv to the extraction of Substances, such as animal and vegetable fats andv oils from the material in which they are found, by means ofvarious Suitable solvents,

suchas benzol or carbon tetrachlorideg,

This invention has for fits' object the provision of an improved apparatus by which extraction by means of a solvent may be eiiciently, conveniently, and economically. ac-l complished.

. The invention "is exemplified in the combination and arrangement of parts shown in the accompanying drawing and described in the following specification and in the steps of the process therein set forth.

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view through ,the longitudinal center of one form of appa' raiis comprised in the present invention; an. i. l Fig. 2 is a vertical sectionsubstantially on 1in@ a-aof Fig. 1.

The apparatus shown in the ldrawing comprises a rotary extractor 10 havinga Surrounding jacket 11 -for the admission of temperature controlling `fluid. lThe ends of the extractor `10 are vprovided with detachable heads 12 and 13 to which are secured cylinlso of the cylinder head 12 by cap screws 23. A

series of pipes 24 are threaded into openings in the casing 22 which rotates about the head 21 so that the openings 25 register with openings 25 in the head 21 for certain positions of the ,extractor-10..- Y'

The cylinder'14 and the extractor 10 arerotatable by means of a worm wheelf26 driven by a worm 27 and the rotation of the extractor carries with. itthe pipes ,24, thus periodically' 4bringing the inner endsof the pipes intoregistration with the openings 25. l A valvel 28 controlsthe pipe 20 leading to the-dis- I tributing -valve head 21 so that steam may be admitted to the distributing head, as will be hereinafter described. A suitable packing gland 29 provides a tight joint between thev l pipe 20 and the,cylinder 14 so that the cylinder may rotate about the pipe While maintaining a Auid-tight .joint therewith.-

A second pipe 30 surrounds the'pipe20 and communicates 4with a passage 31 in the cylinder 14, vthe passage 31 being connected by a pipe 32 to the jacket 11 surrounding the extractor. A packing gland 35 forms ak tight joint between the cylinder 14 and the pipe 30.v A valve 36 controls the admission of steam through the pipe 30 to the jacket surrounding the extractor. A third plpe 37 surrounds the pipe 30 .and communicates through a passage 38 and pipe 39 with branch pipes 4 0 'and 41 which connect-with the jacket 1'1 on opposite Sides of a partition wall 42 which extends the full lengthof'the jacketandis l. shown as located diametrically oppo'siteuthe `point at which thepipe'32 enters the-jacket, v

although this relatlve position is notessential. Itl will be apparent thatv when the-ex ftractor is rotated, water of condensation will collect at one side or the other of the partition 42, depending on the angular position of the extractor, and this f' water .will be drained throughone or the other of the branch pipes 40 and 41,` depending on the directionof roi tation, the pipes being controlled by valves,

as shown. A packing gland 43 and a. l control valve 44 are provided for the pipe37.- The cylinder 15 iscentrally' bored for the" passage of a pipe 45 provided withfa pipe'46 arranged within the extractor 10 'and openA extractor. A packing gland 4 7if-provides a tight joint between the head-13 and the pipe 45 and permitsr lative rotation thereof. .A

extractor isinthe position lshowninFig.

, 5. f j ing'near the upper. portion thereof for receiving gases or vaporizedmaterialufrom the packing gland 4 provides a tight'joit be# tween the rotary cylinder 15 andthe `station-1. a y l ary ipe 45. A second pipe 48 passes through the journal 15 withinthe pipe 45 rand come municates with a' head 49 gwhich is' provided with a pipe 5 0 rotatably mounted therein and' provided .withapacking gland v51. The pipe 50 extends through the screen 55 vrand opens near ythe bottom .of-.the extractor 'when the and pressed-cake,

The pipe may be provided with a collar restying` on the upper surface of the screen.

ed from the interior of the extractor. Openings 53 having covers 54 are provided for charging the extractor `with material to be treated.

Heretofore in the extraction of fats or oils as has been customary Where the material contains a comparatively large percentage of moisture to dry the material prior to the extracting operation, but according to the pres-v ont invention fats or oils may be extracted from material having as highpas 50% or more of moisture without preliminary dry-` ing. If the material, such asbones, seeds, etc., is dry, or nearly so, the extractor is charged with the material through the openings 53 and the closures 54 are tightly sealed. The solvent is then introduced into the extractor through thepipes 48 and 50'so as to fiood the material Within the extractor. The extractor is then 'rotated to agitate together the material and solvent,

after which the solution is pumped out' throu h the pipes 48 and 50.

A li ter plate 55 is provided near the bottom of the extractor to separate the solution from the solid material when the tank is lin the position vshown in Fig. 1. The partition 42 may have an openingf56 extending therethrough from the interior to the exterior of the extractor through which the solution may be drawn from beneath the filter plate'55 instead of being removed through the pipe 50. A plug 57 or otherI suitable means may be used for closing the opening 56. Afterthe removal of the solution the lmaterial may again be Hooded with fresh solvent and more. o

the soluble element be thus extracted. The operation may be repeated any number of times, using resh solvent or solvent which has been previously used until the material has been extracted to the desired extent.

After the final extraction there remains in the extractor the material, such as bones, seeds, meal, etc., with solvent adhering thereto and disposed in the pores with possibly some moisture. To remove this remaining solvent the material may be heated by steam vintroduced into the vjacket 1l While the extractor is rotated to bring all parts of the material into contact with the heated Walls 'of the extractor.v At the same time, if desired, steam may be introduced into the pipe 20 so that during rotation this steam will be periodically discharged into the extractor through the pipes 24 to drive o all traces of the solvent.

In case the material from which oil or fat e5 is to be'extracted contains a considerable for further use.

quantity of moisture, as for example, green bone' in which the moisture may amount to. from 40% to 60%, the material is charged into the extractor Without previous drying and flooded with the solvent. Steam is then introduced into'the jacket to heat the entire contents and the extractor is rotated tofacilitate the heating operation. Solvent vapors together with Water vapors pass off from the extractor through the pipe 46 and conduit 52 to suitable condensers and separators Where the condensed Water and solvent are separated from one another and the solvent collected The operation may, of. course, be carried on with the extractor stationary or during rotation of the extractor to facilitate heating. The pressure Within the extractor may be reduced to facilitate evaporation by means of a suction pump connected with the conduit 52, or, the process may be performed at atmospheric pressure or at a pressure in excess of atmospheric pressure. The solution consisting of the solvent and extracted fat or oil may be removed and the process repeated any number of times found necessary or desirable for removing the fatty material to the degree required.

After the final extraction the remaining solvent may be removed, as previously explained., 1 Y The presence of the solvent during the time that the material is heated assists in the re-` moval of'moisture, advantage being taken of the -Well-known principles of physical chemistry governing the vapor pressure and boiling points of mixtures. By using a solvent which for practical purposes is immiscible with Water, a condition is brought about under which at a given pressure the mixture will boil at a lower temperature than the boiling point either of the solvent or Water alone, since the-vapor pressures of the two constituents summate and overcome the pressure on the mixture at atemperature lower than that at which the lowest boiling constituent alone would overcome the pressure, thus facilitating the removal of both Water and the solvent from the material.

The drying and extracting as carried out by the present invention is effected Without injury to the fat kor oil or to the material from which it' is extracted. The operation may be carried out under vacuum, permitting the use of lony temperatures. The heating surface is large so that it is not necessary to use excessive temperatures at any point to quickly warm the entire contents ing chamber below the screen 55 by means/of the pipes 48- andy 50, the material from which the oils and fats are to `be extracted being previously introduced into the extractor through the openings 53.'The extractor is then rotated to agitate the material and solvent after which the solution is pumped out" of the extractor through 'the pipes 48 and 50.

` This operation may be repeated several times,

using fresh solvent each time the operation is performed.-

After the final extraction some of the solvent is still in intimate contact with the bones, seeds, etc., within the extractor. In

vorder to remove the solvent steam may be introduced into the jacket H while the ,extractor is rotated to bring all parts of the material into contact with the heated walls of the extractor. Steam may also be introduced into the extractor through the pipes 24 tol drive oil all traces of the solvent through the member 46 and pipes 45 and 52. This latter process is also used where the material has considerable moisture, 'the water vapor and solvent passing off through the pipes 46 and 52 into suitable condensers and separators.

` Pipes 32 supply steam to the steam jacket and pipes 39 remove any water of condensation from sai'd steam jacket after it has been intercepted by the baliie 42, the steam pressure in the jacket tending to blow the Water out through the pipe extensions 40 or 41 and pipe 39 when valve 44 is opened.-

We claim:

-1. An extractor comprising a rotary container having a surrounding jacket, a partition wall in said jacket extending in the direction of-the axis of said container, and

condensation drains communicating with said jacket adjacent the opposite sides of said partition wall.

2. An extractor comprising a cylindrical container having a ysurrounding jacket, and a partition wall in said jacket extending 1ongitudinally of said container, said partition wall having an opening extending therethrough from the interior to the exterior of said container. j

3. An extractor comprising a cylindrical container having a surrounding jacket and having charging doors extending through the Walls' thereof, removable heads vfor closing the ends of said cylindrical container, journals connected with said heads for, supporting said container, conduits extending through one of said journals and communicating with said jacket at points on different sides thereof for supplying steam and for removing condensed moisture from said jacket respec tively, a distributin head Within said lcontainer, a third con uit extending through said journal and communicating 'with said distributing head, a rotary valve coo erating with said -liead for periodically disc arging steam from said distributing conduit into said container when said containerl is rotated, and means for driving said container. 4. An extractor comprisng a cylindrical vcontainer-having a surrounding j acket,.journals fixed to said container for supporting 'said container, means for rotating said container, means for supplying a heating medium to said'jacket and for draining liquid from said jacket during rotation of said container, means for periodically supplying steam to the interior of said container during rotation thereof, a conduit l extending through one of said journals for supplying a solvent to said container and for withdrawing the solution formed by said solvent, and a second conduit extending through said journals and disposed about said first-mentioned conduit, said second conduit having an intake opening disposed adjacent the upper portion of said container.

5. An extractor comprising a rotary container having a surrounding jacket, a partition Wall in said jacket extending in the direction of the axis of said container, a steam conduit communicating with said jacket, condensation drains communicating with said jacket adjacent the opposite sides of said v partition wall, and valves for controlling said drains.

6. An extractor comprising a rotary conv other, one of said conduitscommunicating with said jacket at points on di-ii'erent'sides of the axis of rotation of said container for supplyin a heating medium'and for draining liquid of condensation from said jacket.

8. An extractor comprising a cylindricalV container having a surrounding jacket, a partition wall in said jacket extending longiiisgl tudinally of said container, and a filter plate j extending longitudinally of and parallel to the axis of rotation of said container, thereby separating a ortion ofv said container fromthe main bo y thereof, said partition Wall having an opening extending therethrough j for draining material from the ortion of said container divided oi by said lter plate.

9. An extractor comprising a rotary container having a jacketing chamber, a steam conduit-communicating with said chamber,

a baie arranged in said chamber adapted to intercept the water of condensation, and an outlet conduit through which the waterl is drained from said chamber, said bailie being arranged with a portion thereof adjacent said outlet so as to pile up the intercepted Water over said outlets so that said Water will drain readily into said conduit.

In testimony whereof We have si ned our names to this specification onvthis 5t day of May, A; D. 1923.

WALTER E. SANGER. OSCAR H. STER. 

